Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Over the weekend, the San Francisco 49ers released their first depth chart during this training camp. What stood out in the release of the depth chart was that it had answered a number of answers which were assumed about what was ahead at this point during training camp.
Beginning on offense, the first depth chart has answered assumptions which were presumed after a week of training camp and what was seen during minicamps and organized team activities (OTAs).
At the quarterback position, in specific to who will be the backup, Colt McCoy has been listed as the backup to Colin Kaepernick. While coach Jim Harbaugh was not willing to name a backup during OTAs, the play of McCoy and how Harbaugh spoke of him made it clear he was the clear cut number two quarterback.
The running back position was another one which people were anxious to see where things stood. Upon revelation, LaMichael James was listed as the second string running back with no listing of Kendall Hunter on the depth chart. This confirms that James has been showing off and has put in solid work during minicamps and OTAs. The non listing of Hunter is not an issue given Hunter is still not practicing full speed, as evidenced by the fact that Mario Manningham is also not listed given he is not practicing full speed as of yet himself.
Speaking of the wide receiver position, Kyle Williams is listed the number two wide receiver alongside Anquan Boldin while much discussed A.J. Jenkins is listed as Boldin’s primary backup with rookie Quinton Patton as a third team wide receiver.
On defense, the two biggest question marks coming in were and have been the starting nose tackle and who will be starting at cornerback and at the free safety position. At the nose tackle position, Ian Williams is listed as the first string nose tackle, the listing only confirms what has been said about him and his work so far in training camp.
As far as the secondary is concerned, an area of great uncertainty for the 49ers during this training camp, we have a clear idea of who has impressed and played well so far in training camp. Along with Carlos Rogers, Tarrell Brown is listed as the other first string cornerback while in a bit of a surprise to some, C.J. Spillman was listed as the first string free safety ahead of rookie Eric Reid and Craig Dahl, who was listed as second string strong safety.
While this is only the depth chart headed into the first pre-season game on Thursday against the Denver Broncos and with that, it is clear that their are names not yet on the list due to injury, the first depth chart has only confirmed several hunches and assumptions that have been made about the performance of certain players to date in minicamps, OTAs and so far in training camp.
Lucas Carreras is a contributing San Francisco 49ers writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow Lucas on Twitter by following him @maldini3fan and you can add him to your circles on Google+.
